Luggage system with removable clothing rack and method of use

ABSTRACT

A rigid piece of luggage with a pair of removable, telescoping posts which suspend a clothing rack above the luggage. This allows the user to place wardrobe changes in an organized and ready-to-wear orientation for dance competitions, plays, or other events where the user needs quick access to clothing. This could also be used for regular travel for hanging clothes directly from the user&#39;s luggage. The telescoping pole has a base which snaps into receivers within the luggage and which then can be telescoped upward to suspend the clothing rack. A cover can seal the receiver when not in use. A button can be depressed to release the telescoping arms, or the spring element could include that functionality itself. A curtain could be used with the clothing rack for privacy on-the-go.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/119,415 Filed Nov. 30, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a luggage system and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a rigid luggage system with removable posts for a clothes-hanging rack and containment system thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Dancers, performers, travelers, or anyone else often need to quickly change clothing or costumes in public places. Typical luggage requires the user to sift through piles of clothing to find the correct article. Existing luggage with wardrobe attachments require the wardrobe bar to extend from the storage compartment of the luggage, rendering the luggage unable to close while the wardrobe feature is in use. Further, these wardrobe features are typically made to be as lightweight and cheaply as possible, typically having a single structural post extending away from the luggage on either side of the crossbar. While the luggage is open, contents stored within are susceptible to theft.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a rigid piece of luggage with a pair of removable, telescoping posts which suspend a clothing rack above the luggage. This allows the user to place wardrobe changes in an organized and ready-to-wear orientation for dance competitions, plays, or other events where the user needs quick access to clothing. This could also be used for regular travel for hanging clothes directly from the user's luggage.

The telescoping pole has a base which snaps into receivers within the luggage and which then can be telescoped upward to suspend the clothing rack. A cover can seal the receiver when not in use. A button on the inside of the luggage can be depressed to release the telescoping arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in a first, stored orientation.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view taken about the circle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view taken about the circle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded three-dimensional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown in a second, extended orientation.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. Introduction and Environment

As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.

II. Preferred Embodiment Luggage System 2 with Suspended Clothing Rack 26

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the present invention provides a piece of luggage 2 with a pair of receiver cavities 14 each terminating in a receiver cap 6. Each cavity can receive one telescoping arm 20, made of a number of interlocking segments 22, which is inserted into engaged with a respective receiver. The arms can telescope upward, as shown in FIG. 4, to suspend a clothing rack 26 above the luggage. Clothing can be hung from the rack with or without hangers.

As shown in FIG. 2, the receiver cap 6 can have a cover 12 for closing the top opening 8 of the receiver cavity 14. The receiver cavity 14 is accessible has a hollow interior 10 housing the telescoping arm when in a first, stored orientation. The cover 12 could be closed with or without the telescoping arm inserted into the receiver. A button 16 or other release mechanism can be used to release the telescoping arm from within the receiver. As shown, the user would open the luggage case 4 via the opening 5 and access the button 16 on the interior of the luggage case 4. Once done, this would activate a spring element 18 at the base of the receiver cavity 14 as shown in more detail in FIG. 3.

When the button 16 is pressed, the spring element 18 pushes the telescoping arm 20 upwards out of the top opening 8 such that the user can then telescope the arms 20 upwards, the individual sections 22 locking into their respective places. An embodiment could include an automatically telescoping arm using multiple such spring elements. When the arms 20 are pressed back within the receiver cavities 14 fully, returning the luggage system 2 to a first, stored orientation, the button 16 will lock the arms 20 into place, with the spring element 18 locked in a ready position.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, a button 17 may be located at the top of the telescoping arm 20. When this button 17 is pressed, the spring element 18 again would unlock, pushing the arm up and out of the receiver cavities 14. When pushed back down, the spring element 18 would then lock in place.

The spring element 18 as shown in FIG. 3 has a base 23 which is set against the bottom of the receiver cavity 14. A spring 24 connects the base to a top platform 21 which is set against the bottom edge of the bottom-most arm 20 segment 22. When pressed down and locked into place via the button 16, the arm 20 will keep the spring 23 depressed and ready to push the arm 20 upwards when the button 17 is depressed.

The clothing rack 26 may be inserted onto the tops of the arms 20 using rack receivers 28 which connect to the top ends of the upper-most arm 20 segments 22. Alternatively, the arms 20 may have folding elements which can form the clothing rack, or some other suitable means of retaining a clothing rack about the tops of the arms 20 could be employed. For added, on-the-go privacy, a curtain (not shown) could be added to the clothing rack 26 for a fast-changing room.

In an alternative embodiment, the spring element 18 could be a spring-loaded pop-up button rather than relying on the internal button 16. The spring element 18 can have two orientations: a first, locked orientation where the telescoping arm 20 is locked down within the receiver cavity 14, and a second, popped-up orientation where the telescoping arm 20 is pressed downwardly against the spring element 18, thereby unlocking the spring element 18 and popping the arm 20 up out of the top opening 8 of the receiver cavity 14. When pressed again, the spring element 18 would lock back down with the telescoping arm secured within the cavity. When the telescoping arm is pulled out of the cavity, the various segments 22 lock into place as shown in FIGS. 4-6.

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. 

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. A luggage system for a hard-cased piece of luggage having an exterior face and an interior compartment, the luggage system comprising: a pair of receiver cavities having a floor near a bottom of the piece of luggage and a top opening near a top of said piece of luggage; a pair of telescoping arms, each one of said pair of telescoping arms being deployed within a respective one of said pair of receiver cavities; each of said pair of receiver cavities including a spring element deployed between said floor of the respective one of said pair of receiver cavities and a bottom end of the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms; wherein said luggage system is configured to be transformed between a first, stored orientation and a second, deployed orientation; each respective one of said pair of telescoping arms configured to be released from within the respective one of said pair of receiver cavities, thereby transforming said luggage system from said first, stored orientation and said second, deployed orientation; and a clothing rack configured to be connected to a top end of each of said pair of telescoping arms when said luggage system is transformed into said second, deployed orientation.
 2. The luggage system of claim 1, further comprising: each top opening of each respective one of said pair of receiver cavities comprising a cap configured to be placed over the respective to opening; and said cap configured to selectively seal said top opening.
 3. The luggage system of claim 1, further comprising: each of said pair of receiver cavities including a button configured to retain the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms within the respective one of said receiver cavities; and each said button configured to release the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms from within the respective one of said pair of receiver cavities, thereby transforming said luggage system from said first, stored orientation and said second, deployed orientation.
 4. The luggage system of claim 3, wherein each said button accessible via said interior compartment of said piece of luggage
 5. The luggage system of claim 3, wherein each said button is placed on a top face of the respective telescoping arm.
 6. The luggage system of claim 1, further comprising: each said spring element having a first, locked position and a second, unlocked position; each said spring element configured to be transformed from said first, locked position to said second, unlocked position by pressing downward against the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms located above the respective said spring element; each said spring element thereby configured to release the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms from within the respective one of said pair of receiver cavities, thereby transforming said luggage system from said first, stored orientation and said second, deployed orientation; and each said spring element configured to be transformed from said second, unlocked position to said first, locked position by pressing downward against the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms located above the respective said spring element a second time.
 7. The luggage system of claim 1, further comprising at least two roller wheels configured to allow the hard-cased piece of luggage to be rolled.
 8. The luggage system of claim 1, further comprising at least one exterior storage compartment located on an exterior face of the hard-cased piece of luggage.
 9. A luggage system for a hard-cased piece of luggage having an exterior face and an interior compartment, the luggage system comprising: a pair of receiver cavities having a floor near a bottom of the piece of luggage and to top opening near a top of said piece of luggage; a pair of telescoping arms, each one of said pair of telescoping arms being deployed within a respective one of said pair of receiver cavities; each of said pair of receiver cavities including a button configured to retain the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms within the respective one of said receiver cavities; each of said pair of receiver cavities including a spring element deployed between said floor of the respective one of said pair of receiver cavities and a bottom end of the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms; wherein said luggage system is configured to be transformed between a first, stored orientation and a second, deployed orientation; each said button configured to release the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms from within the respective one of said pair of receiver cavities, thereby transforming said luggage system from said first, stored orientation and said second, deployed orientation; and a clothing rack configured to be connected to a top end of each of said pair of telescoping arms when said luggage system is transformed into said second, deployed orientation.
 10. The luggage system of claim 9, wherein each said button accessible via said interior compartment of said piece of luggage
 11. The luggage system of claim 9, wherein each said button is placed on a top face of the respective telescoping arm.
 12. A luggage system for a hard-cased piece of luggage having an exterior face and an interior compartment, the luggage system comprising: a pair of receiver cavities having a floor near a bottom of the piece of luggage and a top opening near a top of said piece of luggage; a pair of telescoping arms, each one of said pair of telescoping arms being deployed within a respective one of said pair of receiver cavities; each of said pair of receiver cavities including a spring element deployed between said floor of the respective one of said pair of receiver cavities and a bottom end of the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms; each said spring element having a first, locked position and a second, unlocked position; each said spring element configured to be transformed from said first, locked position to said second, unlocked position by pressing downward against the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms located above the respective said spring element; each said spring element thereby configured to release the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms from within the respective one of said pair of receiver cavities, thereby transforming said luggage system from said first, stored orientation and said second, deployed orientation; each said spring element configured to be transformed from said second, unlocked position to said first, locked position by pressing downward against the respective one of said pair of telescoping arms located above the respective said spring element a second time; and a clothing rack configured to be connected to a top end of each of said pair of telescoping arms when said luggage system is transformed into said second, deployed orientation. 